Label:
Jive Records
Release Date:

These guys got my attention a while back with their self titled debut. Now over time they’d dropped out of my mind, mainly due to them not having any real TV or radio support over in this country.

Well as luck would have it they supported Papa Roach when Coby and co. toured the UK and after seeing them twice on that tour I can easily say they stole the show every time. Coby Dick has nothing on Jahred’s stage presence and vocal ability. This view was shared by a lot of people I talked to at the show too. Must be awful when the support act is praised more than the headliners.

Having only heard the single ‘Bartender’ before I went to the gigs I wasn’t really too sure what to expect but the new material blew me away. So much so I went out and bought the new album.

One thing that struck me after the first listen was that it’s softer than the first outing but has so many catchy choruses and phrases that it’ll be in your head for weeks. Hell 2 months after getting it I’m still humming and reciting choruses (I would say sing but that’d be a lie ‘cos I’m tone deaf).

‘Bartender’ really is an anthem for the times, chronicling the lonely times in a bar while looking for that special someone, it is the track that stands out the most as it’s just so damn catchy and so damn full of truth. Listening to it brought back memories, which is unnerving.

Other notable tracks are ‘Swan Dive’ and ‘Feel Good’, the latter featuring Morgan Lander from Kittie and Serj from System of a Down. Morgan’s appearance is nothing outstanding as you might expect, just stepping in on the chorus to give it her bitchy growl. Serj at least pops up in the verses and adds some variety.

Jahred’s vocals really do have huge range, from the growls of ‘Waiting to Die’ and ‘Boom (How You Like That)’ to the (and I’m quoting a female friend here) “dreamy” tones and melodies of ‘The Meadow’ and ‘Jesus (Of Nazareth)’

There’s a song on this for whatever mood you could be in, personal favourites of mine are ‘Boom…’ for the shoutable chorus and ‘Pac Bell’ for the sheer pain conveyed in Jahred’s lyrics over the whole situation of a girl not returning his calls and blowing him off. Poor lad.

Basically this is the band Limp Bizkit want to be. So throw away that red cap and leave the pop charts behind. Pick up ‘Broke’ and start listening to how rap/rock is meant to be done.